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Singapore Advances Power Decarbonisation with $75 million Funding Initiative

26 October 2026

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office (AEDO) have launched a $75 million Power Decarbonisation Funding Initiative to develop and advance low-carbon technologies.

The funding initiative is part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 $800 million Decarbonisation Grand Challenge announced in March 2026. It will support both laboratory-based research to advance the scientific development of emerging low-carbon technologies, as well as the test-bedding and piloting of more mature solutions.

The Power Decarbonisation Funding Initiative will focus on hydrogen, solar and biomass, with the aim of addressing the following challenge statements:

Focus areas Challenge statements
Hydrogen and derivatives
  • Enabling rapid fuel changeover (FCO): Develop technologies that allow power plant combustors to switch from hydrogen-based fuels to backup fuels within 10 minutes, while maintaining combustion stability.
  • Improving the safety of hydrogen infrastructure: Develop safer and more compact hydrogen facilities that reduce the required health and safety buffer to be contained within an industrial zone for a 1 MTPA of H2-equivalent capacity.
  • Reducing the cost of hydrogen: Develop technologies that efficiently extract hydrogen from different hydrogen carriers (e.g. ammonia and methanol) at a cost below US$1/kg-H2 by (i) lowering operational costs by reducing energy use and extending catalyst lifespans to 1,000–2,000-hour at the pilot-scale, and/or (ii) generating additional revenue from potential valuable co-products formed, such as solid carbon.
Solar
  • Expanding surfaces for solar deployment: Develop lower-cost, lower-carbon structural systems that enable solar panels to be installed on unconventional surfaces; reduce structural costs by at least 15% without compromising strength or waterproofing.
  • Developing the next-generation of high efficiency photovoltaic modules: Develop high-efficiency (>30%) or lightweight, flexible PV modules that can be deployed at scale and remain durable in Singapore’s hot and humid environment, at an annual degradation of less than 1% over at least 25 years.
Biomass
  • Converting biomass ash into useful products: Develop versatile, low-cost (<S$50/t) technologies to convert biomass ash from different feedstocks into useful products that meet Singapore’s environmental and end-use requirements.

 

Power Decarbonisation Funding Opportunity under the Decarbonisation Research for Industry, Ventures, and Enterprise (DRIVE)

Under the Decarbonisation Research for Industry, Ventures, and Enterprise (DRIVE) programme, $25 million will be made available for industry-designed projects to accelerate the development of low-carbon technologies for power decarbonisation. Applications for DRIVE opened on 23 October 2026. Companies, including start-ups and technology providers, will take the lead to define the decarbonisation challenges which they want to solve, and work with Singapore’s public universities and research institutions to develop and co-fund promising solutions that address these needs. The Government will provide co-funding of up to 75% of total qualifying project costs to public research performers.

Please refer to Annex for more details about DRIVE.

 

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About the Energy Market Authority (EMA)

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI). Through our work, we seek to build a clean energy future that is resilient, sustainable, and competitive. We aim to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, promote effective competition in the energy market and develop a dynamic energy sector in Singapore. Visit www.ema.gov.sg for more information.

About the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office (AEDO)

The Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office (AEDO), a national platform hosted by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), serves as the Implementing Agency for the $800 million Decarbonisation Grand Challenge (DGC). Visit www.aedo.gov.sg for more information.

For media queries, please contact:

EMA
Vanessa Chua
Manager, Corporate Communications
Email: vanessa_chua@ema.gov.sg

AEDO
Aefy Raib
Manager, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Email: Aefy_Raib@a-star.edu.sg

Annex: Power Decarbonisation Funding Opportunity under the Decarbonisation Research for Industry, Ventures, and Enterprise (DRIVE) co-funding scheme

The scheme supports companies, including start-ups and technology providers, to work with Singapore’s public research institutions to advance low-carbon technologies and address power decarbonisation challenges

Eligible applicants

DRIVE is open year-round to all companies and local public research institutions. To be eligible for DRIVE, projects must:

a. Involve collaboration with a local research institution; and

b. Demonstrate the company's commitment to R&D through co-funding (cash and in-kind).

Projects with industry co-funding of at least 25% of total project qualifying costs, including a minimum 5% cash contribution, will be evaluated more favourably.

Application process

Applications opened on 23 October 2026. The official application is to be submitted by the company, with the research partner as a joint applicant. Further information, including application guidelines and procedures, will be available on the DRIVE webpage on AEDO’s website.